Swing-weight and static weight balance for golf clubs

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for measuring swing weight and static weight of golf clubs adapted to employ a table or counter top as a base is provided by an elongated rigid member having: a first upright section at one end thereof to support a golf club shaft; a second upright section at the other end to hold the grip end of the club; and two longitudinally displaced rockers functioning as fulcrums between the two end sections. The position of a balance weight is adjusted to balance the rigid member on one rocker with a golf club held by the upright sections with the shaft supported by the first upright section and extending away from the second upright section. For measuring the swing weight of clubs without grips, there is provision for adjusting the position of each club so held relative to the upright sections depending on the length of its shaft. For measuring static weight, the club is held with its shaft transverse the elongated rigid member at the one end thereof and balance is obtained on the second rocker by adjusting the position of the balance weight. Swing weight or static weight is then read on a scale from the position of the balance weight, depending upon which rocker is used.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Karsten Solheim 10412 North 37th St.,Phoenix, Ariz. 85028 [21 Appl. No. 756,535

[22] Filed Aug. 30,1968

[45] Patented May 4, 1971 [54] SWING-WEIGHT AND STATIC WEIGHT BALANCEFOR GOLF CLUBS 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 73/65, 7 177/246 [51] 1nt.CI G01m1/12 [50] Field of Search73/65, 66, 456, 480, 482, 484, 487; 177/246, 251, 236

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,320,795 5/1967 Monroe73/65 2,595,717 5/1952 Smith 73/65 2,764,401 9/1956 Stelzer......177/251 2,890,036 6/1959 Stelzer 177/25 1 2,949,287 8/1960 Linsley177/246 3,371,523 3/1968 Crouch 73/65 Primary ExaminerRichard C.Queisser Assistant Examiner-J. Whalen Att0rneyLindenberg and FreilichABSTRACT: Apparatus for measuring swing weight and static weight of golfclubs adapted to employ a table or counter top as a base is provided byan elongated rigid member having: a first upright section at one endthereof to support a golf club shaft; a second upright section at theother end to hold the grip end of the club; and two longitudinallydisplaced rockers functioning as fulcrums between the two end sections.The position of a balance weight is adjusted to balance the rigid memberon one rocker with a golf club held by the upright sections with theshaft supported by the first upright section and extending away from thesecond upright section. For measuring the swing weight of clubs withoutgrips, there is provision for adjusting the position of each club soheld relative to the upright sections depending on the length of itsshaft. For measuring static weight, the club is held with its shafttransverse the elongated rigid member at the one end thereof and balanceis obtained on the second rocker by adjusting the position of thebalance weight. Swing weight or static weight is then read on a scalefrom the position of the balance weight, depending upon which rocker isused.

Patented May 4, 1-971 INVENTOR. 164E975 3015 67/ 4 ATTORNEY '1SWING-WEIG IIT AND STATIC WEIGHT BALANCE FOR GOLF CLUBS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates toapparatus for measuring the swing weight and static weight of golfclubs.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is desirable'to know the swing weightof a club in order to fit a set of clubs to an individuals needs. Swingweights were, at one time, measured in ounces up to as much as 28ounces, or more, but today-they are most commonly measured on anarbitrary alphabet scale from A to G. A swing weight of B is generallyrecommended for junior golfers, and a swing weight of C to D for ladies.The swing weights from D to G are recommended only for men. There are,of course, graduations between major divisions of swing weights in orderto better fit a golfer. For instance, the first five grad'uations of theC swing weight are considered light to medium for ladies, while the lastfive graduations are considered medium to heavy. For men, the first fourgraduations of the D swing'weight are considered light to medium, andthe next four, medium to heavy. Swing weights above that in the Dclassification and on through the G classification, are consideredmedium heavy to extra heavy.

It is also desirable to be able to quickly measure the swing weight ofclubs in order to ascertain whether the set is properly matched. Thereare, of course, other factors or' characteristics that should be matchedor correlated, such as static weight, the fit of the grip and theflexibility of the shaft, in order that the swing feel the same duringplay for each club of a set. The grips and shafts are readily matched bythe manufacturer, but the. swing weights are not always uniform, unlesssold by the manufacturer as a matched setin that regard. And even with amatched set, the golfer may wish to experiment 2 OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a lightweight,low cost, weight balance that employs any substantially horizontal fiatsurface as a base.

Another object is to provide a lightweight, low-cost balance formeasurement of both swing weight and static weight of golf clubs.

Still another object is to providea balance for measuring the swingweight of golf clubs before grips are placed on the shaft thereof.

Yet another object is to provide a balance for measurement of both swingweight and static weight of golf clubs with the same graduations servingboth scales.

According to the invention, a swing weight balance adapted to employ anysubstantially horizontal flat surface as a base is provided by anelongated rigid member having: an upright section at one endthereof tosupport a golf club shaft; an upright section at the other end to holdthe grip end of the club; and a first integral rocker functioning as afulcrum between the two end sections. The position of a balance weightis adjusted to balance the rigid member on the first rocker with thegolf club in place to determine its swing weight as a function of thebalance weight position relative to a scale on the rigid member. Tomeasure the swing weight of a club before a grip is placed on the shaftthereof, the club is moved back toward the other end of the rigidmembera predetermined distance depending on the length of the shaft. Ahole is provided in the upright section at that end to allow the club tobe moved back. The hole is preferably made smaller than a grip so thatthe upright member functions as a stop for golf clubs with grips. Aledge or cradle above the hole, and projecting toward the'orie end ofthe rigid memberiwhich supports the slub, holds the with different swingweights by adding to or removing material y from the club head. Leadtape may be conveniently used for that purpose, but, of course, once thedesired swing weight is found experimentally, the golfer will want tomake a more permanent adjustment to the swing weight of his clubs.

Swing weight balances presently available employ a balance arm supportedon a fulcrum comprising a forked upright member having each branchterminated with a V-slot. A heavy base supports the fork, and atransverse member affixed to the balance arm holds it in the V-slots.For sensitivity, the

transverse armi's provided with a knifelike edge fitting into the -slotsof the fork. The club grip is secured to one end of the arm remote fromthe fulcrum, while the club shaft is allowed to rest on the other end ofthe arm on the opposite side of the fulcrum. A balance weight is thenmoved along the arm until a balance is achieved. The swing weight of theclub is read directly from the arm on a given side of the weight, eitherin ounces or in an alphabetical scale. In order to maintain the arm in asubstantially horizontal position until the balance weight is in theapproximate position of balance limit stops are provided above and belowthe grip end of the balance arm.

Some swing weight balances of the type just described have a V-slottransverse one end of the balance arm on the free end (opposite the gripend) to hold the club (with the shaft thereof transverse the length ofthe balance arm) for static weight measurement. The weight is then readin a manner similar to the swing weight, but from a separate scale sincethe swing weight, will not be the same as static weight even if bothscales are graduated in ounces. Although such balances have been used bygolf professionals and manufacturers for a great many years withsatisfactory results, there has been a need for a lightweight, low-costbalance suitable for general use bygolfers as well as such professionaluse. Such a need could, of course, only be satisfied by a balance havingsubstantially the same accuracy. For use by manufactu'rereand golfprofessionals as well, the balance should be capable of measuring clubswing weights before as well as after grips are placed on the shaftssincethe-mass of the grip will have some effect on the ultimate swingweight of any club.

gripped shaft in place. A permanent weight is attached to the outside ofthe upright section adapted to hold the grip end of the club. It ispreferably attached directly below the hole provided therein,-with itsupper surface scored to indicate how far 'back a club having a shaft ofa given length should be moved if itdoes not have a grip. The rigidmember is preferably made of a flat metal sheet with at least two ridgeson the top extending along the length thereof .The scale is then printedor otherwise placed between the ridges to protect it from wear as theposition of the balance weight is adjusted in balancing the rigid memberon the first rocker while a club is supported in a cantilever fashion bythe two upright sections.

. To measure static weight, a club is placed on the rigid memberadjacent the one end thereof with its shaft transverse the length of therigid member, and held there by detents 'extending upwardly from theridges on the rigid. member while the position of the balance weight isadjustedto balance the rigid member on a second integral rockerfunctioning as a fulcrummore remote from the one end thereof than thefirst rocker. Static weight is then determined as a functionof thebalance weight position relative to a scale on the rigid member. Theposition of the second rocker relative to the'first is so selected as toenable the same graduations to be used for both static and swing weightmeasurements by simply marking the scale for swing weight and for staticweight on the same series of graduations. c

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularify inthe appended claims. The invention will best be understood from thefollowing description when read in con- FIG. I is a side view of thepresent invention illustrating the manner in which it is employed formeasuring the swing weight of a golf club having a grip on the shaft.

FIG. 2 is a view of the grip-holding end of the presentinventionillustrating the manner in' which it is employed for measuring the swingweight of a golf club not having a grip on the shaft.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the present invention.

FIG; 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 taken on a line tionary whilemeasuring the static weight of a golf club in themanner illustrated inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a portion of a scale for the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, thepresent invention comprises an elongated rigid member 10 having anupright section II to support a golf club shaft l2. An upright section13 at the other end of the member 10 is provided with a ledge 14 to holdthe grip 15 of the club. An integral rocker l6 functioning as a fulcrumbetween the two end sections is adapted to rest on a table or countertop 17. A balance weight 18 is then positioned along the member 10 untilthe assembly is in a balanced position with only the rocker- 16 restingon the table or counter top 17 substantially as shown. The swing weightof the club is then read directly on the righthand side of the weight 18from a scale on the member 10.

The rocker 16 is preferably in the form of an are which subtends a smallangle (about 45) of a relatively large circle (having a radius of about2 inches). For sensitivity it would seem that the radius of the circleshould be minimized since the pivotal axis of the assembly moves to theright, or the left, as the assembly rocks forward. or backward. However,sufficient sensitivity is achieved without that constraint because theassembly is not permitted to rock but a few degrees before either theupright sections 11 or a second integral rocker functioning asa-fulcrum35 will rest upon the table I7. In other words, in the criticalrange of balance, very little rocking motion is produced as the weight18 is moved. back and forth to locate the exact position of balance.This is so because the rockers 16 and 35 support the rigid member about0. l2 inches above the table or counter top 17.

To measure the swing weight of a golf club without a grip, hole 19isprovided in the upright member 13 to allow the shaft 12 of the club toextend a predetermined amount to the left of it as shown in FIG. 2. Aledge 20 extending from the upright member 13 is scored to show how farthe shaft should extend through the hole for each shaft length. Inpractice, the ledge 20 is a counterweight selected in coordination withthe balance weight 18 and the scale employed. The longer shafts shouldextend to the left more than the shorter shafts. Accordingly, the leftmost mark would be for 39-inch shafts and the rightmost scoring for35-inch shafts. Three equally spaced marks are scored between thoseextremes for 36-, 37- and 38- inch shafts. The exact position for themarks may be determined experimentally by first balancing the scale withthe grip on any club and then, after removing the grip, moving the shaftthrough the hole in the upright section 13 until balance is restored.The same amount would then suffice for any other club of the same shaftlength regardless of its swing weight.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention showing how the upright sections 11 and 13 of the'rigid member10 are formed from a continuous strip of metal having two longitudinalridges 31 and 32 which not only contribute to the rigidity of the member10 but also provide holding rails for the cylindrical weight 18, as maybe more clearly seen in FIG. 4 which illustrates a sectional view takenalong the line 4-4 of FIG. 3. An additional advantage to be derived fromthe ridges 31 and 32 is that they support the weight away from a scale33 therebetween. Consequently, the scale 33 may be applied in anyconvenient manner without regard to wear, such as by silk screening orby simply printing the scale on a strip of adhesive tape.

The ridges 31 and 32 are preferably made on a straight strip of metalbefore the upright sections ll and 11 are formed. The upright section 13is then formed by simply cutting a notch 34 at the end to receive. aclub shaft and bending a sufficient length upwardly (in the direction ofthe ridges) through approximately a right angle. The upright section 13is formed by cutting the hole 19 and then bending a sufficient lengthupwardly through approximately a right angle. The end of that lengththus bent to form the upright section 13 is then crimped and bentthrough approximately a right angle in the direction of the uprightsection II to form the ledge 14 as shown. To

facilitate cutting the hole 19 and forming the ledge 14, the

ridges 31 and 32 are not extended into the section 13 but for a shortdistance as more clearly shown for the ridge 32 in FIG.

'2. The ledge 20 is secured to the outside of the upright sectiondirectly below the hole 19 in any suitable manner, as by welding orbrazing, and the rocker 16 is formed by crimping the edges of the rigidmember as shown in FIG. 3.

The second rocker 35 is provided in a position more remote from theupright section 11 than the first rocker 16 for measuring the staticweight of a golf club while it is held adjacent the upright section 11(with the shaft 12 transverse the length of the rigid member 10) asshown in FIG. 5. The club shaft 12 is so held by upwardly extendingdetents 36 and 37 on respective ridges 32 and 31 as shown in FIG. 6.Alternatively, the shaft 12 may be so held by a tab cut from thehorizontal portion of the rigid member 10 and bent upwardly. Theposition of the balance weight 18 is adjusted along the ridges 31 and 32until only the rocker 35 rests on the table or counter top 17 as shownin FIG. 5. The weight may then be read from the scale 33 directly inounces.

The position of the second rocker 35 relative to the first rocker I6 isso selected that 10 large graduations of the swing weight scale betweenmajor divisions A, B--G may be used for graduations in fifths of anounce of the static weight, as illustrated in FIG. 7 for the graduationsbetween swing weights A and B. Thus, by placing a scale in ounces on thesame graduations, the graduations for the swing weights A and B are alsoused for the major divisions of 8 and I0 ounces, respectively.Accordingly, the graduation for the intermediate sw'ing weight A--75 isalso used for the intermediate static weight of 9.5 ounces. Phasing thescales in that manner not only permits use of common graduations butalso facilitates reading or distinguishing each.

In a preferred embodiment, the rigid member 10 is only about 19.75inches long between upright sections and the rocker 16 is formed aboutl4.06 inches from the upright sec tion 13. The length of the uprightsections 11 and 13 are so selected that a straight line running from thelower surface of the ledge 14 to the bottom of the notch 34 issubstantially parallel to the rigid member 10 between the sections 11and 13 in order that with a golf club in place and the scale off balanceto the right more than as shown in FIG. I, the club head will not reachthe table or counter top. In that manner, use 'of the balance scale willnot require the precaution of placing it so that it overhangs the tableor counter.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated, it should be noted that other embodiments may be readilydevised without departing from the present invention in its broadestaspects. For instance, the means for compensating the swing weightbalance of a golf club without a grip shown as the table 19 in theupright section 13 may instead be a different size balancing weight 18or counterweight 20 for each club length, but the use of the hole 19 andthe single set of weights l8 and 2.0 is preferred in order to obviatethe need for storing weights of different sizes. As another example,although a unitary construction for the rigid member 10 and uprightsections 11 and 13 is to be preferred, other forms of construction maybe employed, and even with a unitary construction, the choice ofmaterial may include plastics as well as metal, but the latter ispreferred because of the ease with which it can be formed withoutheating. As still another example, the function of the ledge 14 and thehole 19 may be fulfilled by other means such as the counterweight on theinside of the upright section 13, but of smaller diameter to receive theclub shaft without a grip and a small pin protruding from the center ofthe counterweight that will penetrate the grip of a club. In thatmanner, the axis of the shaft may be held in the same position on thebalance whether the club has a grip or not, and the shaft position maybe adjusted toward the upright section 13 when the club does not have agrip. To maintain the same scale, the distance between the rocker l6 andthe upright section l3 would then have to be lengthened and thecounterweight 20 reduced in size to compensate for the increased weightof the rigid member on that side of the rocker 16. It would also bedesirable to incline the counterweight and pin assembly upwardly so thatits axis will more nearly always coincide with the axis of the clubshaft whether it has a grip or not, and if not, regardless of the lengthof the shaft. Accordingly, it is intended that the claims embrace otherembodiments of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A swing weight balance adapted to employ any substantially horizontalflat surface as a base comprising:

an elongated rigid member having a first upright section at one endthereof for supporting a golf club shaft. a second upright sectionat theother end functioning as a positioning stop for a golf club with meansfor holding the grip end of said shaft, and an integral rocker betweensaid upright sections extending from said rigid member in a directionopposite said upright sections for the purpose of resting on said flatsurface while in use;

a balancing weight adjustable in position on said member between saidupright sections;

a graduated scale placed in a position on said member for indicating theswing weight of a golf club by the position of said balancing weightwith respect thereto when its position is adjusted that only said rockerrests upon said horizontal flat surface; and

means for compensating for an increase in the apparent swing-weightbalance of a golf club without a grip.

2. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 1 wherein said meanscomprises a hole in said second upright section of a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the grip end of a golf club shaft but smaller thanthe diameter of the grip of a golf club at the butt end thereof wherebya club without a grip on its shaft may be balanced to determine itsswing weight by moving its shaft through said hole until it protrudestherethrough a predetermined amount which depends upon its length.

3. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 2 wherein said secondupright section includes an element extending therefrom in adirection-away from said rigid member, said element having marks thereonfor indicating the amount a shaft should protrude through said hole fora given shaft length.

4. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 3 wherein said element isa fixed counterweight.

5. A swing-weight balance adapted to employ any substantially horizontalflat surface as a base comprising:

an elongated rigid member consisting of a flat sheet of material havingat least two longitudinal ridges and having a-first upright section atone end thereof for supporting a golf club shaft, a second uprightsection at the other end with means for holding the grip end of saidshaft, and

an integral rocker between said upright sections extending from saidrigid member in a direction opposite said upright sections for thepurpose of resting on said flat surface while in use;

a balancing weight adjustable in position on said two longitudinalridges between said upright sections, said ridges extending in adirection away from said rocker to support said balancing weight awayfrom a flat portion of said sheet between said ridges; and

a graduated scale placed on said flat portion between said ridges ofsaid elongated rigid member for indicating the swing weight of a golfclub by the position of said balancing weight with respect thereto whenits position is so adjusted that only said rocker rests upon saidhorizontal flat surface.

6. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 5 wherein said integralrocker comprises a crimp on each edge of said sheet.

7. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 6 wherein said crimp oneach edge of said sheet supports said member a small fraction of an inchabove said surface and is an are which subtends a small angle of acircle that is large in diameter relative to said small fraction of aninch.

8. A swing-weight balance adapted to employ any substantially horizontalflat surface as a base comprising:

an elongated rigid member having a first upright section at one endthereof for supporting a golf club shaft, a second upright section atthe other end with means for holding the grip end of said shaft, and anintegral rocker between said upright sections extending from said rigidmember in a'direction oppositesaid upright sections for the purpose ofresting on said flat surface while in use;

a balancing weight adjustable in position on said member between saidupright sections;

a graduated scale placed in a position on said member for indicating theswing weight of a golf club by the position of said balancing weightwith respect thereto when its position is so adjusted that only saidrocker rests upon said horizontal flat surface;

means for holding a club adjacent said first upright section with itsshaft transverse the length of said rigid member;

. and a second integral rocker between said upright sections for weightbalancing said club while measuring the static weight thereof byadjusting the position of said weight balance until only said secondrocker rests upon said flat surface, said second rocker being placedbetween said upright sections such that upon so adjusting the positionof said balancing weight, the static weight may be read from the samegraduations of said scale, and said scale is provided with legends formajor divisions of both said swing weight and said static weight, majordivisions of said swing weight coinciding with major divisions of saidstatic weight.

9. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 8 wherein successive majordivisions of said swing weight are identified by successive letters ofthe alphabet, and the same major divisions are identified in successionby a series of integers, each integer of the series being greater thanthe last by two.

1. A swing weight balance adapted to employ any substantially horizontalflat surface as a base comprising: an elongated rigid member having afirst upright section at one end thereof for supporting a golf clubshaft, a second upright section at the other end functioning as apositioning stop for a Golf club with means for holding the grip end ofsaid shaft, and an integral rocker between said upright sectionsextending from said rigid member in a direction opposite said uprightsections for the purpose of resting on said flat surface while in use; abalancing weight adjustable in position on said member between saidupright sections; a graduated scale placed in a position on said memberfor indicating the swing weight of a golf club by the position of saidbalancing weight with respect thereto when its position is adjusted thatonly said rocker rests upon said horizontal flat surface; and means forcompensating for an increase in the apparent swingweight balance of agolf club without a grip.
 2. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim1 wherein said means comprises a hole in said second upright section ofa diameter greater than the diameter of the grip end of a golf clubshaft but smaller than the diameter of the grip of a golf club at thebutt end thereof, whereby a club without a grip on its shaft may bebalanced to determine its swing weight by moving its shaft through saidhole until it protrudes therethrough a predetermined amount whichdepends upon its length.
 3. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 2wherein said second upright section includes an element extendingtherefrom in a direction away from said rigid member, said elementhaving marks thereon for indicating the amount a shaft should protrudethrough said hole for a given shaft length.
 4. A swing-weight balance asdefined in claim 3 wherein said element is a fixed counterweight.
 5. Aswing-weight balance adapted to employ any substantially horizontal flatsurface as a base comprising: an elongated rigid member consisting of aflat sheet of material having at least two longitudinal ridges andhaving a first upright section at one end thereof for supporting a golfclub shaft, a second upright section at the other end with means forholding the grip end of said shaft, and an integral rocker between saidupright sections extending from said rigid member in a directionopposite said upright sections for the purpose of resting on said flatsurface while in use; a balancing weight adjustable in position on saidtwo longitudinal ridges between said upright sections, said ridgesextending in a direction away from said rocker to support said balancingweight away from a flat portion of said sheet between said ridges; and agraduated scale placed on said flat portion between said ridges of saidelongated rigid member for indicating the swing weight of a golf club bythe position of said balancing weight with respect thereto when itsposition is so adjusted that only said rocker rests upon said horizontalflat surface.
 6. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 5 whereinsaid integral rocker comprises a crimp on each edge of said sheet.
 7. Aswing-weight balance as defined in claim 6 wherein said crimp on eachedge of said sheet supports said member a small fraction of an inchabove said surface and is an arc which subtends a small angle of acircle that is large in diameter relative to said small fraction of aninch.
 8. A swing-weight balance adapted to employ any substantiallyhorizontal flat surface as a base comprising: an elongated rigid memberhaving a first upright section at one end thereof for supporting a golfclub shaft, a second upright section at the other end with means forholding the grip end of said shaft, and an integral rocker between saidupright sections extending from said rigid member in a directionopposite said upright sections for the purpose of resting on said flatsurface while in use; a balancing weight adjustable in position on saidmember between said upright sections; a graduated scale placed in aposition on said member for indicating the swing weight of a golf clubby the position of said balancing weight with respect thereto when itsposition is so adjusted that only said rocker rests upon said Horizontalflat surface; means for holding a club adjacent said first uprightsection with its shaft transverse the length of said rigid member; and asecond integral rocker between said upright sections for weightbalancing said club while measuring the static weight thereof byadjusting the position of said weight balance until only said secondrocker rests upon said flat surface, said second rocker being placedbetween said upright sections such that upon so adjusting the positionof said balancing weight, the static weight may be read from the samegraduations of said scale, and said scale is provided with legends formajor divisions of both said swing weight and said static weight, majordivisions of said swing weight coinciding with major divisions of saidstatic weight.
 9. A swing-weight balance as defined in claim 8 whereinsuccessive major divisions of said swing weight are identified bysuccessive letters of the alphabet, and the same major divisions areidentified in succession by a series of integers, each integer of theseries being greater than the last by two.